Tag: confidence

As a student of web development, i often run into errors or new technology that seems insurmountable. I sit in front of my computer, and with my mouth gaping open, witness the overwhelming mass of confusion that is laid before me. I have no idea where to begin, and all i can see is how big and impossible this looks.

This exact feeling is what keeps many beginner developers from continuing on. It does seem insurmountable and you know it is going to take a big chunk of time and energy to figure it out. Some thoughts that might go through ones head: Do i even need to figure this out? Maybe i’ll just skip this and move on to something else. Maybe i should try a different career.

There are times when every action you take doesn’t seem to do anything. When you’re huffing exhaustedly from effort on something in your life and every breath seems unnoticed. Places where you seem invisible despite screaming until your face is blue. When enough is not enough.

For this problem, i present the Dunning-Kruger Effect. It is a principle that states the highly skilled often underestimate their competence, and that the extremely confident can be unable to recognize their incompetence.

Relax

When you think you’re the only one who cares, or the only one working, maybe you are. But according to Dunning-Kruger, it also means you could be highly competent and are already over-achieving. You may be unable to recognize that you’ve gone farther than needed because you always think you haven’t done enough.Continue reading “When Enough Is Not Enough”